Russia’s army announced on Monday that it had captured another village in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, where its forces have been steadily advancing. The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that its troops had “liberated” the village of Yelyzavetivka, located about 10 kilometers (6 miles) south of Kurakhove, a strategically important town that Russian forces are also targeting.

With increased manpower and weaponry, Russia’s army has been making significant progress in the Donetsk region in 2024. Over the past two months, Russia has advanced at its fastest pace since the start of its military offensive, as Moscow aims to strengthen its position on the battlefield before US President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration in January.

In addition to the progress in Donetsk, Russia has claimed advancements in the western Kursk region, where Ukraine launched a surprise offensive during the summer.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s military reported on Monday that it had killed or wounded at least 30 North Korean soldiers deployed by Russia in the Kursk region. Ukraine’s military intelligence stated that the North Korean forces suffered significant losses on December 14 and 15 near the villages of Plekhovo, Vorozhba, and Martynovka.

According to Ukrainian and Western intelligence agencies, around 10,000 North Korean troops have been sent to fight alongside Russia in the region. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on the casualties among North Korean forces.